Burner control system



Jan. 6, 1942. w, RAY 2,268,959

BURNER CONTROL SYSTEM Filed'Aug. 28, 1959 WILLIAM A. RAY mvENTcgR,

` BY/427K@ ATTQRNEY;

Patented Jan. 6, 1942 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BURNER CONTROLSYSTEM William A. Ray, Glendale, Calif.

Application August 28, 1939, Serial No. 292,322

4 Claims.

My present invention relates to a control system for a main burner andfor a pilot burner therefor.

It is an object of my invention to provide, in such a system, anelectrically operated valve for controlling fuel supply to the pilotburner and a separate electrically operated valve for the main burner,the latter valve being conditioned for operation by switching meansactuated by the opening movement of the pilot burner valve.

Another object is to provide means controlled by the pilot burner flamefor energizing the pilot burner valve, whereby, when the pilot burnerflame is extinguished, the pilot burner valve closes and, in so doing,actuates the switching means to render 'the main valve inoperable.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be found in thedescription, the drawing and the appended claims. l

For complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to thefollowing detailed description and accompanying drawing, wherein thesingle figure is a mainly diagrammatic view of apparatus embodying myinvention.

In the drawing, the numeral II generally indicates a solenoid valveprovided with a coil I2 for energizing a plunger I3 to which isconnected a valve member I4. The valve II controls ow through a fuelsupply conduit I5 to a main burner I6 located within a furnace, a wallof which is indicated at I1.

Connected to the conduit I5 ahead of valve II is another valve I8 forcontrolling fuel supply through pipe I9 to a combination pilot burnerand thermoelectric generating device 20. This device is fully describedin the copending application of William A. Ray, Serial No. 225,075, ledAugust l5, 1938, and comprises thermocouple elements 2I heated by flames22. Flame 23 serves to ignite the main burner. Current generated by thedevice is conducted by a cable 24 and wires 25 to the coil of anelectromagnet 26 in valve I8.

The valve I8 is of the uid pressure operated type and is provided with aflexible diaphragm 21 to which is secured a valve member 28 co-loperable with a valve port 29 to control fluid ow from the inlet 30 tothe outlet 3| of the valve. Within a housing 38, provided above thediaphragm, is a pilot valve for controlling the operation of thediaphragm and comprising jet members 32 and 33 connected respectively bypipes 34 and 35 to the inlet 3U and the outlet 3|. Cooperable with thejets 32 and 33 is a pivoted armature 36, normally biased by spring 31into engagement withv jet 33, and movable, when attracted by theelcctromagnet 26, into engagement with jet 32.

When the armature 36 is in its normal or unattracted position as shownin the drawing, the pressure of the fluid from the inlet 30 is appliedthrough the open jet 32 to the area within the housing above thediaphragm. The outlet jet 33 being closed, the pressure above and belowthe diaphragm is equalized and the valve member 28 remains seated. Whenthe electromagnet 23 is sufliciently energized to attract the armature36, the fluid pressure above the diaphragm is relieved through the openjet 33 and the inlet pressure below the diaphragm forces it upward toopen the valve.

Pivoted in a bracket 39, secured to the housing, is a lever 40 engagingthe diaphragm 21 and carrying at its free end a mercury tube switch 4I.When the diaphragm is raised, the switch is tilted to complete thecircuit through its electrodes. The switch 4I is connected by wires 42through a limit control, designated, and the coil of valve I I toterminals 43, to which any convenient source of power maybe supplied.

Valve I8 is provided with manually operable valve means for by-passingfuel to the pilot burner when valve I8 is closed. This means comprises apush-button 44 connected by stem 45 to a valve member 46 Cooperable witha port member 41. When the push-button is moved upwardly, fluid can thenow from the inlet 33 through passageways 48 and 49 and the port member41 to the outlet 3I. A compression spring, 50 biases the valve member toclosed position and a pin 5I limits the upward movement of the valvestem.

To initiate operation of the burner control system, push-button 44 isactuated, permitting flow of fuel to the pilot burner and thermoelectricgenerator 20, where it is lighted. The button is retained in itsactuated position until the thermoelec-tric device is generatingsuicient current to energize electromagnet 26 to attract its armature.When this occurs, pilot burner valve I8 opens, as has been describedabove. The pushbutton may now be released.

The limit control shown may,A by Way of eX- ample, `be a thermostatresponsive to the temperature of a space heated by the main burner.Should this thermostat now be in heat-demand condition, the circuitthrough the main burner valve II will be complete through the switch 4Iand the thermostat, and fuel will flow to the main burner where it willbe ignited by the llame of the pilot burner. Valve II will continue tofunction automatically under the control of the thermostat while switch4| remains tilted to closed position.

Should the flame of the device 20 become eX- tinguished, upon subsequentcooling of the thermoelectric device current ow through theelectromagnet 26 ceases, permitting the armature to drop out to effectclosure of Valve I8. Valve I8, in closing, drops switch 4|, opening thecircuit through the main burner valve Il. The system thus remainsinoperative until the pilot burner is relighted.

While I have herein shown and described, by way of illustration, aspecific embodiment of my lnvention, it is to be understood thatmodifications may be made Without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I intend therefore that my invention be limited only by thescope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a burner control system: a main burner; a conduit for supplyingfuel to the main burner; an electrically operated Valve in the conduit;a pilot burner; a pipe for supplying fuel to the pilot burner andconnected to the conduit ahead 3f said main valve; a thermoelectricdevice heated by the flame of the pilot burner; and mechanism connectedin said pipe comprising a valve body, a diaphragm forming in the body apressure chamber, a valve closure member connected to the diaphragm forcontrolling the passage of the fuel to the pilot burner, said diaphragmbeing aperated by fuel pressure in the pressure chamoer, means operableby power from the thermoelectric device for controlling the pressure insaid zhamber, and an enclosed tiltable mercury switch ln said chamberfor controlling said main valve md operated in response to movement ofsaid diaphragm to valve opening position.

2. In a burner control system: a main burner; a. conduit for supplyingfuel to the main burner; an electrically operated valve in the conduit;a pilot burner; a pipe for supplying fuel to the pilot burner andconnected to the conduit ahead )f said main valve; a thermoelectricdevice heat- 3d by the ame of the pilot burner; and mechanism connectedin said pipe comprising a valve Jody, a diaphragm forming in the body apressure chamber, a valve closure member connectad to the diaphragm forcontrolling the passage )f the fuel to the pilot burner, said diaphragmseing operated by fuel pressure in the pressure :hamben` means operableby power from the ;hermoelectric device for controlling the pressure insaid chamber, an enclosed tiltable mer- :ury switch in said chamber forcontrolling said nain valve and operated in response to movement of saiddiaphragm to valve opening position, and a manually operable by-passvalve incorporated in said valve body for manually controlling thepassage of fuel to the pilot burner.

3. In a burner control system, in combination: a main burner, a conduitconnecting said main burner with a source of gaseous fuel, a normallyclosed electrically operated main valve in said conduit, a pilot burnerfor said main burner, a thermoelectric device arranged to be heated bythe flame of said pilot burner, a pipe for supplying fuel to said pilotburner and connected to said main conduit ahead of said main valve,

manually operable means for establishing communication through said pipefor the passage of fuel to the pilot burner, a valve mechanism forindependently controlling the passage of fuel through said pipe, saidmechanism comprising a casing connected in said pipe, a diaphragm, a

closure member carried by said diaphragm for` controlling fuel flowthrough the casing, means' defining with said diaphragm a fuel pressurechamber, means energized by said thermoelectric device for socontrolling the pressure of the fuel in said chamber that said closuremember is opened when the thermoelectric device is heated, and anenclosed mercury switch in said chamber and controlling said main valve,said switch being so mounted that it is rocked to closed position by themovement of said diaphragm in the opening of said closure member.

4. In a burner control system, in combination: a main burner, a conduitconnecting said main burner with a source of gaseous fuel, a normallyclosed electrically operated main valve in said conduit, a pilot burnerfor said main burner, a pipe for supplying fuel to said pilot burner andconnected' to said main conduit ahead of said main valve, manuallyoperable means for establishing communication through said pipe for thepassage of fuel to the pilot burner, a valve mechanism for independentlycontrolling the passage of fuel through said pipe, thermoelectric meansheated by the flame of the pilot burner to cause said valve mechanism toopen. said valve mechanism including a fuel pressure operated diaphragm,a closure member carried by the diaphragm, as well as a pressurechamber, the pressure of the fuel in which may be controlled to operatesaid diaphragm, an enclosed mercury switch in said chamber andcontrolling said main valve, and means supporting said switch so thatthe closing of the switch is dependent upon the opening movement of saiddiaphragm.

WILLIAM A. RAY.

